Every story is a gem, bringing us back to our childhood when we'd sit on the front stoop to hear our grandmothers spin yarns about their childhood adventures. And, because the Bronx gave birth to countless influencers, by the end of the book, you'll wish you were born there, too.

Whether planting trees in New Orleans or picking up trash in Tehran, one of the most effective ways to heal disaster-struck and neglected places is through community led and driven action. The folks who take care of their local environments and communities are not famous. But we could all learn from their bold actions.

Recently during a relatively innocuous interview, Geraldo Rivera departed from a line of questioning about his politics and recent experiences shooting a television show to say, "Hip-hop has done more damage to Black and Brown people than racism in the last 10 years."

Lesley Gore's last song, perhaps least well known, but most telling of her remarkable
spirit was a song she recorded with a group of Bronx kids whom she barely knew, but who will never forget her - because she was the person who heard them.

We may think of victims being moved across international borders and forced into abusive work conditions. What is less recognized is the other face of trafficking as it plays out right here at home. Whether we recognize it or not, children are being exploited in our own communities across the United States.

Keep this in mind come this weekend, when love is in the air, couples will engage in their mid-winter ritual celebration of Hallmark mandated love, and singles will be looking for some semi-romantic weekend hookups.

Just as we are developing protocols to contain and control Ebola, so to we must take measures to monitor both the spread of jihad sympathy and any inroads ISIS may be making to extend its reach into America's cities.

The beautiful thing is that if we take care of our waterways, they will take care of us. A cleaner river and more vibrant ecosystem are powerful resources. They provide numerous education opportunities and drive community well-being and engagement.

At 26-years-old, the youngest member of the New York City Council is a self-proclaimed "old soul." He's a freshman Councilmember, but is already part of the leadership there, the chairperson of the Committee on Public Housing.

The similarities between Barack Obama and Louis Ortiz extend beyond being a parent, and struggling in a new job. The most obvious similarity, and the most life altering for Mr. Ortiz, was his physical resemblance to the former freshman Senator from Illinois.

Why does urban biodiversity matter at all? Because according to the UN, for the first time in human history more people are now living in cities than rural areas. The planet is urban. When people experience nature, that nature will be urban too.